Exerciser comprising freely rotatable turntable



D. P. RUMELL May 21, 1968 EXERCISER COMPRISING FREELY ROTATABLE TURNTABLE Filed July 2, 1965 v Q////// 0, L m n \\x\ a k v\ w NJ v H. \N a NJ H m W m E u 4 mm .3 vm mm mm w R am vm 1 E m HM- h R United States Patent 3.384.369 EXERCISER COMPRISING FREELY ROTATABLE TURNTABLE Dick P. Rumell, Minneapolis, Minn. (Po. Box 3672, St. Paul, Minn. 55101) Filed July 2, 1965, Ser. No. 469,229 Claims. Cl. 27269) The present invention has relation to exercising equipment and more particularly to an apparatus which permits and promotes exercise varying in strenuousness to accommodate the individual needs of the user.

In order to obtain adequate exercise many different devices have been advanced. Doctors have lOng recognized the need for exercises and, in particular, recognize the need for moderate exercise in hospital patients or geriatric patients. One of the best forms of exercise for people who are barely able to move (such as patients recovering from major operations) or for those advanced in age, is walking. While many health clubs have adequate equipment for exercising, few hospitals, old age homes, and private homes have such equipment.

Further, when patients are infirm they must be constantly supported on something when they are walking. Very few hospitals are equipped properly and consequently the patients get no exercise, thereby deteriorating their general physical condition and postponing complete recovery. The device of the present invention presents a unit which has a rotatably mounted turntable on which people can walk. The unit includes suitable overhead framework and horizontal support bars which the persons walking may grasp. A swivel ring is mounted overhead above the center of the rotatably mounted turntable so that a person walking on the turntable can grasp the ring with one hand, a support bar with the other and walk in a natural position. This is particularly important for older people or when the pace is quickened. When only one horizontal bar is provided on one side of the walking platform the patient walks at an unnatural angle on the turntable and consequently the exercise period is usually cut short and does not serve its intended function.

Further, the overhead framework, as shown, comprises a pair of overhead arches which extend diagonally on the unit and are interlocked at the junction point of the arches. The support ring is mounted at the junction point. The framework has adequate strength with this construction so that the swivel ring can be used for other acrobatic type exercise, if desired.

The unit is strong, low in cost, easy to manufacture, and promotes exercise for people at the rate, in the amount, and of the type they desire.

It is apparent that any of the people walking can run on the turntable as well in order to increase the rate of exercise.

It is an object of the present invention to present an exercising device particularly designed to permit walking in a natural manner for exercise.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an exercising device made according to the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a top plan view of the device of FIG. 1; and

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary sectional view taken as on line 33 in FIG. 2.

Referring to the drawings and the numerals of reference thereon, an exercising unit illustrated generally at includes a base platform 11 which, as shown, is square and has an upper member 12 raised above the fioor a short distance. The base or platform 11 is of a box type as shown in FIG. 3, and includes a bottom member 13 on which four outer upright side members 14 are fixedly attached. The top member 12 is attached to the four side 3,384,369 Patented May 21, 1968 members 14 in any usual or preferred manner. The portions of the top member 12 are also supported on the bottom member 13 with suitable braces 15. As can be seen, the upper member 12 is square around the outer periphery thereof and has a round center opening 16 cut therein.

A disc-like turntable 20 is rotatably mounted with respect to the bottom panel 13 and is positioned within the round center opening 16. The turntable 20 will rotate with the opening. The turntable 20 has a bracket 21 on which a shaft 22 is fixedly attached. The shaft 22 is rotatably mounted in -a suitable housing 23 in bushings, or if desired, anti-friction bearings can be used, according to the loads on the unit. The housing 23 in turn is attached to a bracket 24 which is fixedly attached in any usual or preferred manner to the bottom panel 13. The turntable of walking platform 20 is rotatably mounted in the housing 23 and is of sufiiciently strong construction so that it will support the weight of the person walking on the outer peripheral portions thereof, in the area that a person would walk when wanting the turntable to rotate.

An overhead framework is mounted onto the top panel 12. As shown, a separate post 25 is fixedly mounted through a suitable bracket 33, in each corner of the base assembly 11. The posts extend uprightly from the base. The posts 25 each have an inwardly curved arch portion 26 which joins the arch portion of the other posts above the center of the turntable as at 27. The point of junction of the posts 25 is vertically aligned with the rotational axis of the turntable 20.

A swivel ring 30 is rotatably mounted to the posts 25 at their junction 27 on a suitable swivel support member 31. The ring is rotatably mounted so that it can rotate to any position, and is also mounted so that the ring can be moved annularly through the member 31.

Adjacent posts 25 are joined together with horizontal cross bars 32, which are attached to the posts, as shown. There are three cross bars 32. The fourth side of the unit is left open without any of the horizontal bars for ease of entry to the unit. The bars 32 are attached to the posts with suitable brackets 33.

The overhead framework and post assembly is therefore very stable with respect to the base. The arch portions 26 of the posts, because they are fastened to the other posts, have a great deal of vertical strength. The arch portions 26 will support the weight of a person on the ring 30 if the person wishes to perform some acrobatics using the arch portions for a support. In other words, a person can put his legs up over the top of the arch portions 26 and hang from his knees, if he desires, or, can porform other stunts.

The unit is designed primarily for encouraging walking and running as a form of exercise. This is particular important in the case of older patients. The patients must have some exercise or else physical deterioration will be accelerated. Older patients are unable to participate in active sports or strenuous exercise. Therefore, a walker, such as shown, is ideal. The patient can stand on the platform as shown in FIG. 1 and, as shown, one of the hands will grasp the ring 30 and the other arm can be supported on the adjacent horizontal bar 32. The patient can walk on the turntable and this will rotate the turntable at the desired speed. The patient can walk very slowly, for example, a complete stop can be made between each step. If desired, the patient can run on the turntable as the strength of the patient is increased. The turntable rotates easily to permit this in place running.

It can be seen in FIG. 2 that if a person on the turntable had to depend solely on the horizontal bars for support, his body would be at an angle with respect to the direction of movement of his feet when he attempted to walk. This would complicate the walking process and induce rapid tiring without good exercising of the muscles.

It would make it practically impossible for infirm patients to walk on this type of structure. However, by having the ring 30 in the center of the unit the patient can be positioned in a natural walking position for his exercise by grasping the ring with one hand and the adjacent support bar 32 with the other.

The entire forearm of the patient can be rested on the horizontal bars, if desired, to increase support and stability.

The open side (without any horizontal bars 32) makes it easy to step onto the exercising device, and once in place the patient can walk or run as desired. The patient chooses the exercise pace to meet his particular requirements.

In the home, the unit can be placed in the basement and the home owner can exercise whenever he so desires.

If desired, the unit can be covered with carpeting, as shown at 35, or can be covered with any other material. The material, of course, should be non-skid in order to prevent any serious falls. Also, a strap 36 can be attached to the top panel 12 and the unit can be used for doing sit-ups or other calisthenics type exercise. The strap 36 is used to hold the feet down when the sit-ups are being performed.

The center portions of the revolving unit or turntable are completely clear of any supports or uprights. The arch members permit sufficient strength to eliminate any center uprights or support columns.

Because the turntable surface and the surface of top member 12 are flush the patient will not have any difficulty with falling ofi: the turntable or tripping over raised edges. The flush mounting of the turntable greatly increases safety.

In order to support the turntable at its edges, a plurality of caster wheels 40 can be attached to the turntable 20, have wheels which run on the bottom member 13, as shown in FIG. 3. The caster wheels are conventional casters which can be purchased in hardware stores. They will support the outer edges of the turntable and prevent binding of the center bearing.

What is claimed is:

1. An exercising device comprising a base member, a turntable comprising a substantially horizontal disc like member rotatably mounted on said base member about a substantially vertical axis, a support frame on said base member comprising a plurality of upright posts positioned adjacent said turntable and having at least one substantially horizontal bar joining two of said posts, said bars being positioned so as to permit a person on said turntable to grasp the bars, said posts having extensions forming support framework above said turntable, and a swivel ring mounted on said framework about an axis substantially coincidental with the axis of rotation of said turntable.

2. The combination as specified in claim 1 wherein said base member has a top panel raised about its supporting surface, said top panel having an opening of diameter slightly larger than said turntable, said turntable being mounted so that an upper surface thereof is substantially flush with an upper surface of said top panel.

3. An exercising device comprising a base, a top panel supported by said base in spaced relationship to the ground, said top panel being provided with an opening in the center portions thereof, a disc-like turntable rotatably mounted with respect to said base in position to be rotated Within said opening, said turntable being slight- 1y spaced from the edged surfaces defining said opening, said turntable having an upper surface substantially fiush with the upper surface of said top panel, a framework mounted on said base, said framework including at least one substantially horizontal bar positioned to be adjacent said turntable, said framework having an overhead portion, and a swivel ring rotatably mounted to said overhead portion about an axis substantially coincidental with the axis of rotation of said turntable.

4. An exercising device comprising a base member, said base member having a bottom panel which can be supported upon a supporting surface and a top panel, means extending from said bottom anel to said top panel to support the top panel in spaced relationship to the bottom panel, said top panel having a circular opening defined therein in the center portion thereof, a disc-like turntable rotatably mounted with respect to the bottom panel of said base in position within the circular opening of said top panel, the outer edges of the disc-like turntable being slightly spaced from the edges defining the circular opening in said top panel, the upper surface of said disc being substantially horizontal and defining a plane coincidental with the plane of the top surface of said top panel, a separate post mounted to said top panel at each corner thereof and extending upwardly therefrom, said posts each having arch-shaped upper sections curving inwardly toward a diagonally opposite post, said curved sections being joined together above said turntable and in location substantially coincidental with the axis of rotation of said turntable, a swivel ring rotatably mounted at the junction of said curved sections and extending downwardly therefrom, said swivel ring being of height to be easily grasped by a person on said turntable, and a plurality of substantially horizontal support bars joining adjacent posts, said horizontal support bars being positioned above said top panel a distance so that the forearm of a person walking on said turntable can be rested on the support bars, the horizontal spacing between the axis of rotation of the swival ring and the support bars being of size so that a person standing on the turntable can grasp the support bar with one arm and the swivel ring with the other hand.

5. The combination as specified in claim 4 and a plurality of caster wheels mounted adjacent the peripheral edge of the turntable and engaging the bottom panel.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 684,589 10/ 1901 Renner 273 XR 1,053,742 2/1913 Osvald. 1,521,946 1/ 1925 Hargraves. 1,814,998 7/1931 Yocum 108-139 XR 2,785,896 3/1957 Ellis 27233 3,142,269 7/1964 Keck 108139 XR ANTON O. OECHSLE, Primary Examiner.

P. E. SHAPIRO, Assistant Examiner. 

1. AN EXERCISING DEVICE COMPRISING A BASE MEMBER, A TURNTABLE COMPRISING A SUBSTANTIALLY HORIZONTAL DISC LIKE MEMBER ROTATABLY MOUNTED ON SAID BASE MEMBER ABOUT A SUBSTANTIALLY VERTICAL AXIS, A SUPPORT FRAME ON SAID BASE MEMBER COMPRISING A PLURALITY OF UPRIGHT POSTS POSITIONED ADJACENT SAID TURNTABLE AND HAVING AT LEAST ONE SUBSTANTIALLY HORIZONTAL BAR JOINING TWO OF SAID POSTS, SAID BARS BEING POSITIONED SO AS TO PERMIT A PERSON ON 